The 26-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest, according to a Brumbies spokesperson.

Mackay had been in hospital, critically ill with multiple injuries, since 29 March when he was hit by an armed response car in a Durban street at 4:15am after leaving a nightclub. Mackay’s parents, John and Leonie, and girlfriend Trish flew to South Africa on Tuesday to be by his side.

Team officials said Mackay had shown some positive signs after being brought out of a medically induced coma late last week and underwent surgery.

‘After his surgery, Shawn contracted an infection in his bloodstream,’ said the Brumbies’ chief executive, Andrew Fagan. ‘He deteriorated rapidly and suffered a cardiac arrest from which he didn’t recover.

‘It’s devastating news for his family and for all of the Brumbies community. Our thoughts and those of the players are with his family at this most difficult time.’

Brumbies coach Andy Friend told his squad about Mackay’s death when they landed in Sydney on Monday afternoon (Australian time).